SUSTAINABILITY
Acting on Sustainable Change with Connect4Climate
- BY thedressingscreen
- October 17, 2022
- 12:28 pm
The Dressing Screen Grand Tour is embarking on an exciting new partnership in the realm of sustainability.
In line with its redoubled commitment to helping forge a sustainable fashion industry, The Dressing Screen (TDS) has allied with Connect4Climate (C4C), a global partnership program of the World Bank Group that is working tirelessly to galvanise young people all over the world and make sure climate action actually happens.
If you haven’t already heard of Connect4Climate, they are among the consortium of founding members of the United Nations Sustainable Fashion Alliance, which aims to ensure that the fashion industry sticks to its sustainable commitments. As TDS builds its roster of eco-minded brands, with handcrafted goods and ethical practices at the forefront, partnerships like this one will be key to shifting mindsets on both the consumer and industry sides.
Helping TDS navigate this uncharted territory is Giulia Braga, Connect4Climate’s program manager. She’s also the communications officer of the organisation’s Engagement & Partnerships unit.
“Made in Italy brands, particularly small ones, are leading the way. Sustainability doesn’t only refer to the environmental impact of fashion products, but also to the way clothes are produced and to the rights of the people working in the supply chain,” reflects Giulia, a Lombardy native who has spent the last decade in Washington, DC. Giulia herself is a thoughtful, practical shopper, opting for items based on how versatile they are and their potential to be mixed and matched with other wardrobe favourites. “I try to think about the amount of energy and resources it took to produce a garment before purchasing it. For example: Did you know that it takes the same amount of water that a person drinks in ten years to produce a pair of jeans? Advocacy and communications are key: we need more people, especially youth, to know about the impacts of their purchasing choices.”
Helen Nonini, co-founder, creative director & activist of The Dressing Screen, added:
“As an online marketplace for the unique independent brands that embody distinctive Italian craftsmanship and sustainability, we are uniquely positioned to enable positive change in many different ways. That’s why we allied with Connect4Climate to reinforce our sustainable business: because we want to be not just any marketplace, but the marketplace for good in luxury—a platform that enables and empowers everyone we work with to think, act and choose positively.”
With this C4C Knowledge Partnership Program, TDS joins a network of over 500 partners globally with a shared commitment to driving climate action. This diverse roster comprises partners from 87 countries around the world, including: CSOs/NGOs; academic institutions; media networks; private-sector enterprises; governmental/multilateral organizations; and film festivals, commissions, and companies.
One of C4C’s latest projects in the space is X-Ray Fashion, an immersive virtual reality installation vividly illustrating the shortcomings of fast fashion. Co-produced by Danish XR studio MANND, the showcase, which has toured all over the world, was shortlisted by the Danish Design Awards.
“We are now focused on providing youth with the opportunity to engage the fashion industry in a more structured way,” Giulia says. “As a founding member of the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion and the SDGs, we are committed to advancing the Fashion4Climate agenda, and we’re thrilled about our new partnership with The Dressing Screen. I think it’s key to support artisans and emerging designers who are already applying great sustainable practices and preserving our cultural heritage.
